Change-speed gearing.



I Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50., WASHINGTON. u. C

A. B. LANDIS.

CHANGE SPEED GEARING. APPLICATION FILED 0(1T.26, 1907.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0..wASN|NGToN. u. c.

A. B. LANDIS.

CHANGE SPEED GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 001". 26, 1907.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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liliillllllil ifil s'OLUMBlA I'LANOIJRAI'II UJ-. \VASHINGTUN. 1). cv

A. B. LANDIS. 4 CHANGE SPEED GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 001:. 2a, 1907.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

g t wdmaow i C- COLUMBIA PLANonRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

ABRAHAM B. LANDIS, OF WAYNESBOBO, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHANGE-SPEED GEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 26, 1907. Serial No. 399,252.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM B. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waynesboro, in the county of Franklin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChange-Speed Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

In variable speed frictional driving gearing of common construction thepower is transmitted by contact between parts having only one or twopoints of contact, as where two faces bear one against the other or twoparts bear on opposite sides of an intermediate part, thus affordingonly a limited contact surface between the driving and the driven partand requiring high speed and great pressure between the surfaces inorder to transmit the required power. Such pressure and speed have atendency to wear the mechanism rapidly and subject it to great strainwhich makes the life of such gearing comparatively. short and its useeX- pensive because of the continual repairs and renewal of partsrequired.

The object of my said invention is, therefore, to provide a change speedfrictional gearing by which the motion is transmitted by contact betweena multiplicity of frictional surfaces which can be indefinitelymultiplied according to the power or speed required, whereby great powermay be transmitted with a comparatively light pressure between the partsand the wear and strain upon said part thus reduced to a minimum and agearing provided which will be very durable in use and comparativelyinexpensive to maintain; also wherein the change in speed can beadjusted gradually and continually without any jar or undue strain uponthe different parts; also which may be used either to connect shafts inline, or parallel shafts, to any number desired; and also wherein thepressure of the frictional contact between the parts will beautomatically regulated by the power applied and the load upon saidparts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts: Figure 1is a top or plan view of a change speed gearing embodying my saidinvention, two sets of transmission gears being shown to illustrate thetransmission of,

power from one set of gears to another, Fig.

2 a similar view showing a single set of driving gears with some of theparts in section to illustrate the construction more clearly and showingthe means for adjusting or changing the speed, Fig. 3 aside elevation asseen when looking in the direction -indicated by the arrows from thedotted line 33 in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 an end elevation as seen when lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 44 in Fig.3, Fig. 5 a detailed cross section, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 views illustratingmodified constructions, and Fig. 9 a detail view of one of the parts.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the bed or frame onwhich the mechanism is mounted, B a shaft carrying one set of the gears,and C a shaft carrying the other set of gears.

In the. description reference will be had. mainly to the construction asillustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, inasmuch as the'construction shown inFig. 1 is principally a duplication thereof and will be referred tobriefly after the full description of the construction and operation ofthe single set of gears.

The bed or frame A may be any suitable support for the bearings ofthe'various parts of the mechanism and needs no special description.

The shaft B carries a series of disks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.The end disks 1 and 10 are each formed with long hubs or sleeves B (seeFig. 9) and B ,respectively, which extend through bearings and Z) on thebed A, said bearings being arranged on the top of standards near one endof said bed. The hub B is fastened to the shaft B, to rotate therewithby means of a transverse pin 6 which extends through said hub and shaft.A 10 and the bearing b is adapted to slide longitudinally in saidbearing. The opp0-' site end of said shaft B extends through the hub Band has a sleeve B mounted thereon.

I The bore in the inner end of said sleeve fits snugly to said shaft,while from near said inner end to near its outer end it is formed oflarger diameter and its extreme outer end is of still larger diameter. Acollar 6 is secured on the outer end of said shaft and fits within saidlarger portion of the bore at the outer end of said sleeve. The enlargedouter end of said sleeve is formed with slots in its sides havingtapered or cam-faced I edges 5 Anti-friction rollers b are mount-Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

portion of said hub B between the disk '8' ed on short transverse shaftsor pins 6 which extend outwardly from opposite sides of said collar.Said rollers are adapted to rest and operate upon said cam faces 7),which are arranged opposite to each other on opposite sides of theshaft. A coiled spring 6 is interposed between the inner face of saidcollar 5 and the shoulder 8 near the inner end of the sleeve B. Saidsleeve B is journaled in a bearing B" in line with the bearings Z2 andI) and has a driving pulley B on its inner end and its enlarged outerend abuts against the outer face of said bearing B while the outer endof hub 13 of the disk 1 abuts against the inner end of said sleeve. Allof the disks 1,

2, 8, 4-, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are adapted to slide on said shaft B and topermit said shaft to slide through them, being secured thereto by meansof splines 8, as shown in Fig. 5, or the shaft B may be made square, asshown in Fig. 8. The adjacent faces of each of said disks are formedtapered, 2'. c. the disks are thicker adjacent to the shaft than attheir peripheries, the taper being regular and gradual from near theshaft to their outer edges.

The shaft C is mounted in bearings c and 0, each of which is providedwith a transverse screw-threaded perforation and they are mounted uponscrew-threaded shafts C and C respectively. Said shaft C is j our naledat its outer end in a bearing 0 formed in a standard near the front edgeof the base A and its other end extends through a transverse bearing inthe standard on the top of which is formed the bearing 6. The portion ofsaid shaft which extends through said standard is provided with a collar0 which is secured thereto by a transverse pin a, and holds said shaftfrom longitudinal movement in one direction, while the inner end of thehub of gear wheel C bearing against the outer face of bearing 0 holds itagainst any longitudinal movement in the other direction. Shaft C issimilarly mounted in the bearing c" on the front of the bed and thebearing in the standard on the top of which is formed bearing Z) on therear of the bed, a collar 0 being secured to the outer end of said shaftby means of the pin 0 in the same manner. A train of gearing, consistingof a gear wheel C on the shaft C, a gear wheel C on the shaft C and anintermediate gear wheel C on a stud shaft 0 secured on the standard a onthe front edge of the machine, connects said shafts C and C so that theywill operate together and in a uniform direction. As a means foroperating said shafts I have shown a hand-wheel C on the outer end ofshaft C but, as will be readily understood, this may be connected to anylever or other operating mechanism and extended to any convenientlocation for the operator. On

said shaft C are mounted a series of disks 11, 12, 13, 14:, 15, 16, 17,18 and 19 each of which is adapted to engage between the adjacent facesof two of the disks on shaft B. Each of said disks on shaft C is formedwith a rim somewhat thicker than the main body of the disks so that onlythe thickened portion will contact with the faces of the disks onshaft Band the side edges of said thick ened portions are formed tapered toconform to the taper of the sides or faces on the disks on shaft B.Portions of part of said disks are broken away and shown in section inboth Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 to illustrate their form more clearly. Said disksare secured on shaft C to slide longitudinally thereof being held bymeans of splines, in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. Theoperation is as follows: The disks on shaft C being in engagementbetween the faces of the disks on shaft B, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and2, and power being applied to the pulley B, the sleeve B is turned inthe direction indicated by the arrow which causes the cam faces 6*,acting on the rollers to force the shaft B and the friction disk 10keyed thereto toward the friction disk 1 which abuts against the end ofbearing 6, as shown, thus forcing the several disks toward each otherand clamping the rims of the disks on shaft C between their adjacentfaces. The greater the power applied to said pulley the greater will bethe force with which said parts are clamped together and the frictionbetween said parts. By means of the multiplicity of contact faces,however, a comparatively light pressure between them will be sufficientto transmit a comparatively great amount of power. lVhen it is desiredto decrease the speed the shaft C is turned by means of the hand-wheelC, or other operating means, which through the train of gearing C C andC similarly operates the shaft to force the bearings 0 and 0, carryingthe shaft C, toward the bearings b and b and thus move the points ofcontact between the two sets of anti-friction disks nearer to the centerof the disks on shaft B and decrease the speed while increasing thepower transmitted to shaft C. By reason of the taper on the adjacentfaces of the disks on shaft B and the narrow radial rims of the disks onshaft C only a small portion of the faces are in contact .and the diskson shaft C act as wedges to separate the disks on shaft B, forcing thehub B into the bearing B and separating the disks more widely. lVhilethis operation would be difiicult with the parts standing still, whenthey are in rotation it is easily accomplished, the tapered faced disksrolling around the wedge-shaped rims and walking apart without binding.When it is desired to increase the speed, shaft C 1s turned 1n theopposite direction drawing shaft C away from shaft B and the spring 6'will operate to draw shaft B longitudinally to keep the faces of the twosets of disks in contact. Shaft C is provided with a pulley C or othergear, by which the power or motion may be transmitted as desired.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the construction practically duplicated, theshafts C and B being mounted and arranged as above described. Anothershaft B is mounted in line with shaft B and shaft C is extended througha central bearing C and has its opposite end 0 journaled in a bear ing 0The end C may be made a part of shaft C or coupled thereto. Thescrewshafts for operating the shaft C-C conne ct with the bearing blocks0 and 0 which, with the middle bearing 0 are all mounted on a singleframe C. On shaft C disks corresponding to those on shaft- B arearranged and on shaft B disks corresponding to those on shaft C. Poweris thus trans mitted from shaft B to shaft C3-C and then transmitted toshaft B from which it may be transmitted to the mechanism it is desiredto drive.' The operation is the same as described for the singleconstruction and it is thought the construction and arrange ment ofparts will be fully understood from an inspection of Fig. 1 in view ofthe fore going description.

It will be understood, of course, that additional sets of gears may beadded in the same manner to any limit desired.

By means of having a multiplicity of the inter-engaging disks a greaterfrictional power with weaker force of contact is secured and greaterdurability obtained, as will be readily understood, and a more flexibleand more easily adjusted mechanism provided, while the transmission ofgreat power without danger of slipping is insured. The sliding disks andtapered faces with the means provided for throwing them toward eachother by the load applied also provides for automatically regulating theforcle of contact as may be required by said loac.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated difierent means for adjusting theshaft C toward and from the shaft B, which consists in mounting saidshaft G in a swinging frame 20 hinged on a shaft 21 mounted in suitablebearings on the frame and having a handle 22 by which it may be swung onsaid pivot to vary the distance between shafts C and B. A segmental slotis provided in an overhanging arm 23 secured to the frame and alocking-bolt 24, provided with a lever-nut 25, extends through said slotand the handle 22, by which means said frame 20 may be clamped rigidlyin any position at or between the two extremes shown by whole lines anddotted lines in Fig. 6.

Various other modifications of the construction maybe made withoutdeparting from my invention, as willbe readily understood.

Having thus fully described my said .invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is: r

1. A'change speed gearing comprising a driving and a driven shaft, aseries of disks slidably mounted upon each shaft and arranged withthoseon one shaft engaging between the adjacent faces of those on the othershaft, means for clamping said disks by a force automatically adjustedto the load, one of said shafts being mounted in adjustable bearings,said bearings, and means for adjusting said bearings to carry the shafttherein toward and from said other shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft, aseries of disks mounted to have a longitudinal movement thereon andformed with their adjacent faces tapered from a thick part adjacent tosaid shaft to a thinner outer edge, a driven shaft mounted in'adjustablebearings parallel with said driving shaft, said bearings, a series ofdisks mounted thereon to have a longitudinal movement and arranged toengage between the faces of the disks on the driving shaft, means forvarying the clamping force between said disks as the load varies, andmeans for adjusting the bearings of said driven shaft to vary thedistance between said two shafts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a change speed gearing, the combis nation, of a driving shaft, adriven shaft, a set of longitudinally movable disks upon each of saidshafts, those upon one shaft being adapted to engage between theadjacent faces of those upon the other shaft, means for automaticallyvarying the clamping force between said sets of disks as the loadvaries, and means for adjusting one of said shafts toward and from theother, substantially as set forth.

4. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of a driving shaft, adriven shaft, a series of slidable disks mounted upon each of saidshafts to rotate therewith, one set of said disks adapted to engagebetween the adjacent faces of the other set, the set of v disks servingas the clamping disks being tapered on their adjacent faces and thedisks arranged between said clamping disks being formed with rims widerthan the main thickness of the disk, said rims having faces taperedcorrespondingly to the taper of the clamping disks, substantially as setforth.

5. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shafthaving a series of slidable disks mounted thereon, said disks, the twoend disks being formed with elongated hubs which extend through thebearings and serve-as journals, said bearings, a sleeve mounted on theouter end of said shaft carrying the driving wheel, said sleeve formedwith a cam-face in its side engaging with a transverse engaging part onsaid shaft, said driving wheel, a driven shaft having a series of disksengaging between the faces of the disks on said driving shaft, and saidseries of disks on the driven shaft, substantially as set forth.

6. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft, aseries of disks mounted to have a limited longitudinal movement thereonexcept one end disk which is mounted fast on said shaft, both of the enddisks being formed with elongated hubs adapted to rest in bearingsprovided therefor and support said shaft, said bearings, anti-frictionrollers on the outer end of said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaftformed with slots in its opposite sides with cam-edges with which saidrollers are adapted to engage, the driving pulley mounted on saidsleeve, the driven shaft mounted adjacent to said driving shaft, aseries of disks on said driven shaft engaging between the faces of thedisks on said driving shaft, and means for adjusting one of said shaftsto vary the distance between them, substantially as set forth.

7. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft, aseries of disks mounted thereon to have a limited longitudinal movementexcept one end disk which is rigidly secured thereto, each of said enddisks being formed with elongated hubs adapted to serve as journals andmounted in bearings provided therefor, the adjacent faces of said disksbeing formed tapered, said bearings, a driven shaft alongside of saiddriving shaft mounted in adjustable bearings, said adjustable bearings,a series of disks on said driven shaft adapted to engage between theadjacent faces of the disks on said driving shaft, means for adjustingsaid bearings toward and from the bearings on the driving shaft, asleeve on the outer end of said driving shaft adjacent to the hub of theend disk adjacent thereto, a driving pulley on said sleeve, a collar onthe outer end of said shaft, a spring interposed between said collar anda shoulder at the rear end of said sleeve, anti-friction rollers onradial journals on opposite sides of said collar, said sleeve beingformed with slots on opposite sides having cam-shaped edges with whichsaid anti-friction rollers engage, substantially as set forth.

8. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft, aset of disks mounted thereon to have a sliding movement, a springadapted to hold said disks toward each other, a driving pulley mountedon a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a cam engagement between said sleeveand shaft whereby the application of the power to said pulley will tendto draw said disks together, the driven shaft, and a series of disksslidably mounted on said driven shaft and arranged to engage the diskson said driving shaft, substantially as set forth.

9. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft, aseries of slidably mounted disks thereon, the driving pulley mounted tohave a limited movement independent of. said shaft, and connected tosaid shaft by a cam engagement, whereby the application of power to saidpulley will tend to draw said disks together, the driven shaft, and aseries of disks on said driven shaft arranged to engage with the diskson said driving shaft, substantially as set forth.

10. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft,the driving gear mounted thereon and connected thereto by a camengagement, a series of disks slidably mounted on said shaft, the drivenshaft, and a series of disks thereon arranged to engage with the diskson said driving shaft, substantially as set forth. I

11. In a change speed gearing, the combination, of the driving shaft,the driving gear mounted thereon and connected thereto by a camconnection, a series of disks slidably mounted thereon, a hub or collaroutside of the end disk locked to the shaft, a driven shaft, and aseries of disks mounted on said driven shaft engaging with the disks onsaid driving shaft, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington,D. (3., this 18th day of October, A. D. nineteen hundred and seven.

ABRAHAM B. LANDIS. [L. s.]

WVitnesses:

E. IV. BRADFORD, ANNA M. SMALLwooD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

